Pennsylvania court says porn emails on aren't public record but doesn't bar their release

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A Pennsylvania court says pornographic emails on attorney general's office computers are not public records under the state Right-to-Know Law, but the judges aren't stopping Attorney General Kathleen Kane from releasing them.

Commonwealth Court ruled 6-to-1 Thursday against a request by The Philadelphia Inquirer to release the emails, saying "public records" under the access law have to document an official transaction or activity of the agency.

A Kane spokesman says she's reviewing the decision and will announce her plans Wednesday.

The newspaper made a formal request in August 2014 for copies of all emails that are "of a personal nature and involve pornographic or otherwise inappropriate material." It covered all employees since 2005.

Kane's previously made public dozens of emails with content that ranges from juvenile humor to sexually explicit images.